Consequences of integrating livestock and wildlife in an African savanna

Keesing, Felicia; Ostfeld, Richard S.; Okanga, Sharon; Huckett, S.; Bayles, Brett R.; Chaplin‐Kramer, Rebecca; Fredericks, L. Page; Hedlund, Tyler; Kowal, Virginia; Tallis, Heather; Warui, Charles M.; Wood, Spencer A.; Allan, Brian F.

doi:10.1038/s41893-018-0149-2

Cited by 45 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Conflict between food production and conservation has become of growing concern in securing a sustainable future due to land scarcity and increasing human demands (Crist, Mora, & Engelman, ). On private lands, the integration of livestock production and wildlife tourism seems feasible with positive implications of disease management and vegetation (Keesing et al., ). However, livestock grazing in protected areas may not harvest these benefits due to competition with wild ungulates (Odadi, Karachi, Abdulrazak, & Young, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals human pressures on mammal communities within the largest protected area complex in West Africa

Harris

Mills

Harissou³

et al. 2019

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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The dearth of ecological data from protected areas at relevant scales challenges conservation practice in West Africa. We conducted the first camera survey for Burkina Faso and Niger to elucidate interactions between resource users and mammals in the largest protected area complex in West Africa (W‐Arly‐Pendjari, WAP). We differentiated direct (e.g., poaching) and indirect (e.g., domestic animals) human activities to determine their effects on species richness, composition, and behavior. Livestock was the dominant human pressure while gathering was the most prevalent direct human activity. Human pressure did not influence species richness or composition, but reduced mammal activity with greater consequences from indirect activities. We also found distinct differences among guilds in their behavioral responses to human pressures as wild ungulates exhibited the greatest sensitivities to livestock presence. Our findings, that aggregated socioecological data, transition the WAP complex from the singular mandate of nature conservation to a dynamic coupled human‐natural ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals human pressures on mammal communities within the largest protected area complex in West Africa

Harris

Mills

Harissou³

et al. 2019

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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“…Wealthier countries must contribute towards alternative and improved revenue-generating mechanisms to help pay for the management and opportunity costs of Africa's vast network of semi-protected areas. In some contexts, livestock or sustainable use of wildlife can be compatible with conservation 60,61 . In South Africa, a biodiversity economy strategy promotes bioprospecting and game ranching for hunting and meat-, skin-and leather exports as key revenue streams complementing eco-tourism 62 .…”

Section: A Recognize the Reliance Of Development On Natural Assetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conserving Africa’s wildlife and wildlands through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond

et al. 2020

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The SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 illness are driving a global crisis. Governments have responded by restricting human movement, which has reduced economic activity. These changes may benefit biodiversity conservation in some ways, but in Africa, we contend that the net conservation impacts of COVID-19 will be strongly negative. Here, we describe how the crisis creates a perfect storm of reduced funding, restrictions on the operations of conservation agencies, and elevated human threats to nature. We identify the immediate steps necessary to address these challenges and support ongoing conservation efforts. We then highlight systemic flaws in contemporary conservation and identify opportunities to restructure for greater resilience. Finally, we emphasize the critical importance of conserving habitat and regulating unsafe wildlife trade practices to reduce the risk of future pandemics.

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“…For a detailed description of ownership and management practices on the 25 properties, see Keesing et al . 17 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here we use an array of properties managed for cattle production and wildlife conservation in the semi-arid savanna of Laikipia, Kenya as a case study to examine the viability of livestock production and forage for wildlife under variable precipitation scenarios and at different livestock densities. Laikipia is a large (9666 km 2 ) region that spans a wide range of rainfall and productivity; there, livestock ranching and wildlife-related tourism are of primary economic importance 17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A coupled forage-grazer model predicts viability of livestock production and wildlife habitat at the regional scale

Kowal

Jones

Keesing

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Informed management of livestock on rangelands underpins both the livelihoods of communities that depend on livestock for sustenance, and the conservation of wildlife that often depend on livestock-dominated landscapes for habitat. Understanding spatial patterns of rangeland productivity is therefore crucial to designing global development strategies that balance social and environmental benefits. Here we introduce a new rangeland production model that dynamically links the Century ecosystem model with a basic ruminant diet selection and physiology model. With lightweight input data requirements that can be met with global sources, the model estimates the viability of broad livestock management decisions, and suggests possible implications of these management decisions for grazing wildlife. Using minimal field data, the new rangeland production model enables the reliable estimation of cattle stocking density; this is an important predictor of the viability of livestock production and forage available for grazing wildlife.

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Consequences of integrating livestock and wildlife in an African savanna

Cited by 45 publications

References 31 publications

First camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals human pressures on mammal communities within the largest protected area complex in West Africa

First camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals human pressures on mammal communities within the largest protected area complex in West Africa

Conserving Africa’s wildlife and wildlands through the COVID-19 crisis and beyond

A coupled forage-grazer model predicts viability of livestock production and wildlife habitat at the regional scale

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